Former U.S. Representative Virgil Goode (C-VA) has won the Constitution Party's nomination for President of the United States. The Constitution Party is considered a "Patriot Group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a designation the SPLC reserves for groups that "advocate or adhere to extreme anti-government doctrines". I do NOT associate myself with the Constitution Party or any other far-right fringe party.
This could be a major development that might increase President Obama's chances of re-election for several reasons. First, many Tea Party politicians and activists have used anti-government rhetoric in their political discourse, so Goode may be more appealing to them than Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican Party nominee for POTUS. Also, Goode has some name recognition, being a former congressman. Additionally, Goode allied himself with Ron Paul during his time in Congress, so many Paulites who disdain Romney may back Goode if Paul himself does not run a third-party, independent, and/or write-in campaign for POTUS. Finally, Goode is from a potential swing state (Virginia) and the Constitution Party has major party status in another potential swing state (Colorado).
As much as I would enjoy Romney and Goode splitting the conservative vote and handing Obama a second term, I can't imagine Goode's campaign gaining significant traction for two reasons. First, ballot access for third-party presidential candidates is difficult to gain in certain states. Second, If Romney felt that Goode's campaign was gaining traction, Romney would Etch-A-Sketch himself to the far-right. However, I looked at Free Republic, a website frequented by hard-line conservatives, and some Freepers were more excited by Goode winning the Constitution Party nomination than Romney becoming the presumptive Republican Party nominee. Admittingly, I read Free Republic from time to time to remind myself how crazy Tea Partiers are.
Regardless of whether or not Virgil Goode's third-party campaign gains traction, I stand by President Obama and will cast my vote for President Obama on November 6. There is too much riding on this election for any registered voter to stay home.